Summer 2007

George Jacobson, President

Opportunity. It’s the big concept that drives our mission. We seek to grow more opportunities each year for independence and self-sufficiency or people who are blind, Deaf-Blind, and blind with other disabilities.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “opportunity” as a good chance for advancement or progress. That’s exactly what we seek to achieve through our mission --- for the blind and Deaf-Blind communities to have the same opportunities for progress and advancement as their sighted peers.

Even though blind people are completely capable of performing thousands of different types of jobs, the fact remains that seven out of ten blind adults are still not in the workforce. Our non-profit agency seeks to address this problem by offering opportunities for employment, independence, and upward mobility. This typically means making sure that the right types of specialized equipment and training are available.

What opportunity comes down to here at the Lighthouse is equal access. We couldn’t offer the opportunities we do without accessibility being at the very heart of how we fulfill our mission. Job access requires assistive technology. Mobility access requires training. Equal communication access requires interpreters. By putting a few simple adaptations in place, we can offer the kind of opportunities that make real progress happen.

We couldn’t offer these opportunities without the support of volunteers, donors, and government officials. For instance, over 130 volunteer interpreters and guides will join us for our Deaf-Blind retreat this year. We simply couldn’t offer a completely accessible experience without their help.

Likewise, we could not offer programs like computer training or orientation and mobility instruction without generous philanthropic support from the community. Last year, we successfully raised the funds to open a new vocational computer program. The program is now up and running thanks to the community. Community support also enabled us to hire a third Orientation & Mobility instructor this year – helping us to serve more blind and Deaf-Blind clients so they can travel independently and safely.

This issue of Horizons offers a snapshot of the many ways people here at the Lighthouse are advancing and taking advantage of opportunities: whether it be the opportunity to learn new skills or the opportunity to work for change in the world. Lighthouse employees are working together to make progress happen today.

Thanks for being a part of growing opportunities in the blind and Deaf-Blind communities.

Previous Page | Horizons Main Page | Home